Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The full horror of the 56-day ordeal endured by abducted schoolchildren and teachers from Oyo State has come into sharp focus, with one of the rescued pupils providing a harrowing account of the final moments of his teacher, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, who was killed in captivity. Fifteen-year-old Bello Hassan, who was among the pupils rescued after the mass abduction on May 15, 2026, from schools in Oriire Local Government Area, recounted in a video seen by SaharaReporters how the kidnappers separated the mathematics teacher from the rest of the captives before executing him. "When they were to kill our teacher, Mr Michael, they took him to a corner to kill him, although the killing did not happen in my presence but we heard his shout," Bello said, describing the haunting memory that has stayed with him since the attack.
The teenager's testimony offers a rare glimpse into the brutal conditions inside the kidnappers' forest camp, where dozens of pupils and teachers were held for nearly two months. Bello said the armed gunmen stormed the school while students were writing tests, firing their weapons and forcing everyone to follow them into the bush. "We were taking tests when they came and we were forced to follow them because they had guns and were shooting. We walked for hours before getting to where they took us to," he recalled. The abductors frequently moved the victims from one location to another, he said, making it difficult for them to remain in a single place for long. Despite the terrifying circumstances, the kidnappers ensured the captives were fed, initially preparing meals themselves before allowing some of the women among the victims to cook, though that arrangement was later reversed.
The most chilling revelation from Bello's account was the killing of Mr. Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher who was beheaded on the second day of captivity. Bello said he did not witness the actual killing, but he heard the teacher's cries as he was led away. The same fate befell another captive, identified only as Deacon, who was killed on the first Sunday of June. The rescued principal of one of the attacked schools, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, later confirmed that the kidnappers killed the teachers to pressure the government. "They killed them purposely because they thought it would force the hand of the government to provide them whatever they wanted," she said. Another teacher, Mr. Esiyan Adegboye, 49, was shot dead during the initial invasion of the school.
Throughout their captivity, Bello said the abductors communicated in multiple languages, including English, Hausa and Fulani, suggesting a diverse group of perpetrators. When it rained, they covered the captives with nylon, and it was only after their rescue that they received new clothes. The victims were also subjected to severe beatings, particularly the younger pupils who cried or made noise. Alamu, the principal, revealed that although she was not physically assaulted, several of the children suffered beatings whenever they became upset. Despite the trauma, the victims walked for four hours through the forest at night before their release, leaving many of them with bruises and other injuries.
The pupils and teachers were formally handed over to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde after undergoing medical observation and psychological evaluation. The governor assured the victims of full government support for their welfare, rehabilitation, education and emotional recovery. "As a government, we will support every one of you. We will do everything necessary to protect the education of the pupils and the careers of the teachers so that this unfortunate incident will not define your future," Makinde said. Thirty-one of the 39 rescued pupils were later discharged from the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso, while eight remained under observation.
Despite the trauma he endured, Bello expressed cautious optimism about returning to school. "If God wills it, I will return to school in this area," he said. His testimony, along with that of other survivors, has exposed the horrific conditions inside the kidnappers' camp and underscored the deep psychological scars left on the victims. The family of Michael Oyedokun has since appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Makinde to recover his remains for a dignified burial, saying the absence of his body has prolonged their grief. The Senate has approved a N50 million donation to the families of the two teachers and three security personnel who lost their lives during the abduction and rescue operation.
The abduction, which occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, sparked nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of schools in rural communities. The victims were rescued on July 10 following a coordinated security operation involving the military and other agencies. No ransom was paid, and no concession was made to the terrorists, according to President Tinubu. However, for Bello and the other survivors, the psychological scars of their 56 days in captivity will take much longer to heal.
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